Devices in adding machines having a multiplying mechanism for converting a total-taking operation into a subtotal-taking operation



Feb. 17, 1970 J. LYDFORS 3,495,771

DEVICES IN ADDING MACHINES HAVING A MULTIPLYING MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A TOTAL-TAKING OPERATION INTO A SUBTOTAL-TAKING" OPERATION Filed Nov. 8, 1968 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0'5 17 I6 I 8 l/ f I415 12 a L, '1 I 35 20 I9 & I 37' 1 IO FIG.

Feb. 17, 19704 J. LYDFORS 3,495,771

DEVICES IN ADDING MACHINES HAVING A MULTIPLYING MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A TOTAL-TAKING OPERATION INTO A SUBTOTAL-TAKING OPERATION Filed Nov. 8, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 17, 1970 J. LYDFQRS 3,495,771

' DEVICES IN ADDING MACHINES HAVING A MULTIPLYING MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING A TOTAL-TAKING OPERATION INTO A SUBTOTAL-TAKING OPERATION Filed Nov. 8, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 3,495,771 DEVICES IN ADDING MACHINES HAVING A MULTIPLYING MECHANISM FOR CON- VERTING A TOTAL-TAKING OPERATION INTO A SUBTOTAL-TAKIN G OPERATION John Lydfors, Malmo, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Addo, Malmo, Sweden Filed Nov. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 774,464 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 9, 1967, 15,362/67 Int. Cl. G06c 29/00, 23/00 US. Cl. 23560 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a device in a motordriven adding machine which on one hand has a printing mechanism adjustable in both a total-taking operation and a subtotal-taking operation of the machine by engagement with a calculating register for withdrawal of the amount from the calculating register which in the subtotal-taking operation is retainable, by enabling of a coupling mechanism, in engagement with the printing mechanism after the amount has been printed for returning the amount value from the printing mechanism to the calculating register, and on the other hand a multiplying mechanism which is adapted, at the end of a multiplying calculation in the machine, automatically to initiate a total-taking operation of the machine.

In such machines it is sometimes desirable that at the end of a multiplying calculation the machine effect a subtotal-taking operation instead of a total-taking operation when the result of a multiplying calculation shall immediately be part of some subsequent calculation. Prior-art machines provide such change from a totaltaking operation to a subtotal-taking operation in that prior to the initiation of the multiplying calculation a lever is manually shiftable to a subtotal position whereby the multiplying mechanism at the end of the multiplying calculation automatically initiates a subtotal instead of a total-taking operation. If at the next-following multiplying calculation it is desired instead to have a total the lever must be shifted from the subtotal position back to the total position. In multiplying calculations the operator thus must devote attention to the lever not only when he wishes to obtain a subtotal but also when he wishes to obtain a total.

This drawback of the prior-art machines is overcome by the present invention which is characterized in that an actuating member driven by the machine motor at each total and subtotal-taking operation is connectible by means of a preselecting mechanism, when this mechanism occupies operative'instead of inoperative position, with the subtotal coupling mechanism for making said coupling mechanism operative, that the preselecting mechanism is adjustable into its operative position by means of a manual operating member shiftable from an inoperative to an operative position, and that the operating member and the preselecting mechanism are restorable by means of the actuating member to their inoperative positions before the end of a subtotal-taking operation of the machine. In the device according to the invention the multiplying mechanism thus each time automatically initiates a total-taking operation but if necessary the operator can convert this total-taking operation into a subtotal-taking operation by manually acting upon the operating member prior to the start of the multiplying calculation. He need devote attention to the problem of total taking or subtotal-taking only when he wants a subtotal, for the operating member is to be actuated only in that case.

The invention will be described more fully in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment chosen by way of example.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows the mechanism details essential to the invention in a non-actuated state;

FIGURE 2 shows the details in the positions they occupy after depression of a preselecting key;

FIGURE 3 shows the details in a position during a subtotal-taking operation.

An input element 2 of a subtotal coupling mechanism is pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft 1 in a motordriven adding machine. In inoperative condition (FIG URES 1, 2) the input element 2 is kept applied against a stationary pin 3 with the aid of a spring 4 which is expanded between the pin 3 and a pin 5 secured to the input element 2. Likewise pivotally mounted on the shaft 1 is an actuating member 6 is hinged to a rod 8 by means of a pin 7. In inoperative condition (FIGURES 1, 2) the actuating member 6 is kept applied against a stationary pin 3 with the aid of a spring 10 which is expanded between the actuating member 6 and a stationary pin 11.

The actuating member 6 is connectible via a preselecting mechanism to the input element 2 of the subtotal coupling mechanism. The preselecting mechanism substantially comprises a pawl 12 and a latch 13. The pawl 12 is pivotally mounted by means of a bushing 14 on a pin 15 secured to the actuating member 6. A spring 17 expanded between the pawl 12 and a stationary pin 16 tends to swing the pawl 12 clockwise as viewed in FIG- URE l to move a nose 18 of the pawl into engagement with a lug 19 of the input element 2 of the subtotal coupling. In the inoperative position of the details in FIG- URE 1 the nose 18 of the pawl 12, however, is kept disengaged from the lug 19 against the action of the spring 17 in that the pawl 12 with a tail piece 20 engages a pin 21 on the latch 13, as will appear from FIGURE 1. The latch 13 is pivoted to a stationary pin 22 and, in the inoperative position of the details in FIGURE 1, is applied with an arm 23 against a shoulder 24 of an operating arm 25 which is pivoted to the shaft 1. A spring 27 expanded between the latch 13 and a stationary pin 26 tends to swing the pawl counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1, and by the intermediary of the pawl 12 and the pin 21 the spring 17 also tends to swing the latch 13 in the same direction, i.e., the springs 17 and 27 keep the arm 23 of the latch 13 pressed against the shoulder 24 of the arm 25 in the inoperative position of the details in FIGURE 1.

A manual operating member shiftable from an inoperative position according to FIGURE 1 to an operative position according to FIGURE 2 substantially comprises the operating arm 25 and a manually depressable key 28 the key shaft 29 of which is vertically movably guided in guides (not shown) in the machine frame, and a pin 30 which engages a slot 31 in the key shaft. A pin 33 on the operating arm 25 engages a horizontal slot 32 in the key shaft 29 so that arm 25 is swung upon shifting of the key. A spring 35 expanded between the operating arm 25 and a stationary pin 24 tends to swing arm 25 clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1 to keep the shoulder 24 of the arm 25 engaged with the arm 23 of the latch 13 and to keep the key 28 in raised inoperative position, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The device described is built into a motor-driven adding machine which has a printing mechanism, a calculating register and a multiplying mechanism. These components of the machine are not shown since they are of the conventional, previously known type. In a total-taking operation as well as a subtotal-taking operation of the machine the printing mechanism is conventionally adjustable by engagement with the calculating register for withdrawal of the amount from the calculating register. For total taking the calculating register is disengaged from the printing mechanism after the amount has been transferred to said mechanism and the calculating register has thus been zeroized. For subtotal-taking, however, the calculating register is kept engaged with the printing register after the amount has been printed so that the printing mechanism upon its return to initial position returns the amount value to the calculating register. This retention of the cal culating register in engagement with the printing mechanism after the amount has been printed is realized in a known manner with the aid of a subtotal coupling mechanism the input element 2 of which is shown in the drawings. The multiplying mechanism is of the known type that at the end of a multiplying calculation in the machine automatically initiates a total-taking operation of the machine. In such a mechanism first the multiplicand is keyed on the keyboard of the machine whereupon a multiplication key is depressed and the multiplicator is keyed on the keyboard. The multiplying calculation is then initiated by depression of a starting key (equal-sign key), and the calculation is concluded by a total-taking operation. In every total-taking operation the motor of the machine pushes the rod 8 upwardly from the position in FIG- URES 1 and 2 to the position in FIGURE 3 whereafter the rod is again returned to initial position.

If in an adding machine of this type which is equipped with a device according to the present invention, the operator wishes to obtain a subtotal instead of a total in a multiplying calculation he depresses the preselecting key 28 before he initiates the multiplying calculation by acting upon the equal-sign key. At the depression of key 28 arm 25 is swung from the position in FIGURE 1 to the position in FIGURE 2. This will disengage the shoulder 24 from arm 23 of latch 13 so that the springs 17 and 27 are are able to swing latch 13 from the inoperative position in FIGURE 1 to the operative position in FIGURE 2 in which latch 13 bears against the stationary pin 36 and edge 37 of arm 25 above shoulder 24 is kept applied against the end of arm 23 by spring 35. When latch 13 is swung to the position in FIGURE 2 the pin 21 attached to the latch is raised so that spring 17 is able to swing nose 18 of pawl 12 into engagement with lug 19 on the input element 22 of the subtotal coupling, as shown in FIGURE 2. The details remain in the position in FIG- URE 2 until the multiplying calculation is concluded and the multiplying mechanism starts an automatic total-taking operation. At this operation rod 8 is moved upwards whereby actuating member 6 is swung from the inoperative position in FIGURE 2 to the fully actuated position in FIGURE 3. The pawl 12 mounted on the actuating member 6 is carried along in this swinging movement of said member and by its engagement with lug 19 pawl '12 also carries along the input element 2 whereby the subtotal coupling mechanism is enabled so that the totaltaking operation automatically initiated by the multiplying mechanism is converted into a subtotal-taking operation since the subtotal coupling mechanism will keep the calculating register engaged with the printing mechanism after printing of the subtotal for restoring the subtotal value from the printing mechanism to the calculating register.

When during the swinging movement from the FIG- URE 2 position actuating member 6 approaches the fully actuated position in FIGURE 3 the bearing bushing 14 of pawl 12 hits latch 13 swinging it clockwise from the FIGURE 2 position to the FIGURE 3 position, arm 23 of the latch being swung along edge 37 of arm 25 towards and past shoulder 24 so that spring 35 can return arm 25 clockwise and raise key 28 to initial position as shown in FIGURE 3. When the details have reached the FIGURE 3 position pin 21 of latch 13 is situated in a rounded edge recess 38 of pawl 12. When at the end of the total-taking operation rod 8 is returned from the FIGURE 3 position to the FIGURE 1 position actuating member 6 will be swung back into engagement with pin 9 from the FIG- URE 3 position to the FIGURE 1 position. At the same time latch 13 is swung by springs 17 and 27 from the FIGURE 3 to the FIGURE 1 position in view arm 23 of the latch engages shoulder 24 and prevents continued swinging movement of latch 13. In the described swinging movement of actuating member 6 on shaft 1 and the swinging movement of latch 13 on pin 22, pin 21 of latch 13 and pawl 12 on actuating member 6 will effect a relative movement which can be described as a sliding movement of pin 21 from edge recess 38 to tail piece 20 of the pawl from the FIGURE 3 position to the FIGURE 1 position whereby pin 21 exerts a camming action on pawl 12 in such a way that nose 18 of pawl 12 is swung against the action of spring 17 out of engagement with lug 19 on the input element 2 of the subtotal coupling whereby spring 4 is able to swing the input element 2 clockwise from the FIGURE 3 position to the inoperative position in FIGURE 1 in which the input element 2 rests against the pin 3. At the end of the subtotal-taking operation the details will thus be restored to the inoperative state in FIGURE 1. It now another multiplying calculation is initiated without prior actuation of key 28 this operation will consequently be concluded with a totaltaking operation because actuating member 6 when swung in the total-taking operation from the FIGURE 1 position to the FIGURE 3 position by rod 8, cannot carry along the input element 2 of the subtotal coupling mechanism since pawl 12 then occupies the inoperative position in FIGURE 1 in which it is disengaged from lug 19 of the input element 2.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor-driven adding machine having on the one hand a printing mechanism being set in both a total-taking operation and a subtotal-taking operation of the machine by engagement with a calculating register for withdrawal of the amount from the calculating register which in the subtotal-taking operation is retained, by enabling a subtotal coupling mechanism, in enagement with the printing mechanism after the amount has been printed for returning the amount from the printing mechanism to the calculating register, and on the other hand a multiplying mechanism automatically initiating at the end of a multiplication operation a total-taking operation of the machine, a device comprising actuating means (6) driven by the machine motor at each total and subtotal-taking operation,

a preselecting mechanism (12, 13) shiftable between an operative and an inoperative position, and operably associated with said actuating means,

manual operating means (25, 28) manually shiftable from an inoperative to an operative position for shifting said preselecting mechanism into its operative position,

said actuating means being connected by said preselecting mechanism, when said preselecting mechanism occupies operative instead of inoperative position, with the subtotal coupling mechanism (2) for making the coupling mechanism operative, and

means (14, 21, 35) for restoring said manual operating means and said preselecting mechanism by said actuating means to their inoperative positions before the ends of a subtotal-taking operation of the machine. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pawl (12) of said preselecting mechanism being mounted on said actuating means, a mounting shaft (1) on which said actuating means is rockably mounted, means (8) for rocking said actuating means by the motor of the machine, and an input element (2) of the substotal coupling mechanism rockably mounted on said mounting shaft, said pawl engaging in the operative position of said preselecting mechanism said input element for carrying said input element along in the rocking movement of said actuating means for enabling the coupling mechanism.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a latch (13) of said preselecting mechanism having an inoperative and an operative position, spring means (27) biasing said latch into its operative position, and means (24) on said manual operating means for holding said latch in its inoperative position against the action of said spring means when said manual operating means occupy their inoperative position,

said latch holding in its inoperative position said pawl disengaged from said input element, and

said means on said manual operating means releasing, when manually shifting said manual operating means into their operative position, said latch for allowing said spring means to move said latch into its operative position thereby allowing said pawl to engage said input member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,296 12/1951 Gn'gsby et al. 235-60 2,651,462 9/ 1953 Gourdon 235-62 2,905,382 9/1959 Carnacina 235-60 3,281,069 10/1966 Bullock 235-60 US. Cl. X.R. 

